The story goes that modernism ripped everything up and started again; and nowhere did more of that mid-century aesthetic shredding than Brazil. Helio Oiticica, Lygia Pape, Lygia Clark, Ivan Serpa et al forged a brand new path towards minimalism. But Raven Row’s incredible new show is challenging that oversimplified narrative, showing how figuration, traditional aesthetics and ritual symbolism were an integral part of experimental Brazilian art from 1950-1980. The whole thing’s great. It’s a gorgeous, in-depth, museum-quality exploration of creativity at its most fertile, modernism at its most exciting and abstraction at its most beautiful.
It’s officially the first weekend of Spring. That’s right, we made it through the rough Great British winter and now you can reward yourself by hitting up all of London’s new season of theatre, art and events.
There are some cultural treats in store this week, including Raven Row’s five-star art show ‘Some May Work As Symbols’, which according to Time Out’s art critic is a ‘gorgeous, in-depth, museum-quality’ exploration of mid-century Brazilian art.
There are also glittering Ramadan light displays to spot across the city, an inaugural literature festival at Ally Pally to visit with some wonderful speakers, beautiful ceramics markets to browse and a film fest dedicated to Italian cinema to get stuck into.
Still got gaps in your diary? Embrace the warmer days with a look at the best places to see spring flowers in London, or have a cosy time in one of London’s best pubs. If you’ve still got some space in your week, check out London’s best bars and restaurants, or take in one of these lesser-known London attractions.
RECOMMENDED: Listen and, most importantly, subscribe to Time Out’s brand new, weekly podcast ‘Love Thy Neighbourhood’ and hear famous Londoners show our editor Joe Mackertich around their favourite bits of the city.